Spark-intensifier



Patented Mar. 1,1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT caries.

HENRY L. MILLER, OF $1. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A$SIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO "WILLIAM F. KAIPEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SPARK-III'I'ENSIFIER.

Specification of LcttersPatent.

Application filed February 19, 1920. Serial No. 380,006.

To all to from it may concern:

Be itknown that l, HENRY L. l /IILLER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at St.

Louis, tit-ate of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in opark-lntensifiers, of which the Iollow ng 1s a specification. I This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in spark intensifiers and is especially adapted to spark plugs on -automobiles or the like.

The main object of nay-invention is to provide means to increase the intensity or" the spark at the electrodes of a spark plug or the like; secondly to provide an intensifier that will be non-combustible in cases where there might be an accumulation or" gases in the atmosphere around the in tensifier; thirdly to provide a simple, cheap and effective spark intensifier protected from an open spark.

In the accompanying drawing on which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 represents a side view of a spark plug of the usual or any approved style, with my intensifier applied thereto;

F 1g. 2 a plan view of my intensifier with the pivot bolt and plug stub in section; and Fig. 3 a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 2.

The letter A represents a spark plug of the usual or any approved style, having electrodes B and a stub post C with binding nut D for attachment of electrical connections thereto. E and F represent the top and bottom plates of insulating material such fiber and preferably of a diamond shape as shown in Fig. 2.

These plates are separated by a slight dis tance leaving a space between the plates that constitutes a chamber with sides that are open for the entrance of air and of comparatively small. height compared with its breadth. Between these plates are also located sheets of infusible insulating material such; as mica and designated by GG" for the upper and lower plate respectively. Between these insulating plates and protected by the mica or infusible plates forming the upper and lower walls of the said chamber, are located flat plate electrodes H and I which are clamped with the said plates by suitable fastening means such as rivets J passing through the electrode H and adiacent dates and fixin it near one 7 w 9 2:

end of the diamond shaped plates as shown in' Fig. 2. The outer end of the electrode H is provided with a hole for mounting on the plug stub G, or otherwise electrically connccted to the spark plug and preferably supported thereby as shown in Fig. l.

The other electrode I is preferably pivot. ed by a bolt K passing through the latter electrode near the outer end or opposite end of the plates E and F, and is provided with a nut L to clamp said electrode and plates together, and with a binding screw M by which the terminal N of a cable is electrically connected to the electrode l'. The inner opposing ends of the electrodes H and I are located at the center of the insulating plates and chamber formed thereby, and are rounded as shown in Fig. 2 so as to retard the current jumping the gap between said electrodes at the rounded ends and increase the impulse of said current as it passes to the electrodes B of the spark plug. The gap between the electrodes Hand I of the intensifier may be varied by pivotal adjust ment of the electrode I upon the pivot bolt K, and .lor convenience in such adjustment this electrode extends out beyond the plates E and F to form a handle P. The upper plate E is provided at the centerwith an opening Q that is shielded by the upper mica plate Gr but provides for visible examination of the action of the electrodes H and I at the same time protecting the open spark.

On account of the relatively small distance "that separates the insulating plates, which distance corresponds practically with the thickness of the electrodes H and l of the intensifier, the that might prevail outside about this intensifier would not be made combustible or explosive by the intensifier spark, since the opening to the chamber is insuificient to allow enough of said gases to be admitted to the chamber to cause said combustion or explosion. The spark passing between said rounded points and being exposed to said gases or air as above described, would have only sufficient air or gas to effect ignition and accomplish my purpose of intensifying the spark, but not so much as to cause combustion. The spark passing between said rounded points and being open to the air as above described, forms a, burning rather than explosive combustion, while it is protected by the mica and latbntcd Mar. 1, 1921.

insulating plates and is subject to the air coming in freely at the sides of the chamber between the plates.

Thus by means of this pair of round point ed electrodes forming a protected open spark although visible for inspection, the current passing from the cable 0 to the spark plug electrodes B is given an intensifying impulse in jumping the gap between the round pointed electrodes H and 1, and the distance of said gap may be varied as may be desired by the pivotal adjustment stone of the electrodes. It will be seen that the diamond shape is specially convenient for the insulating plates, as it provides diminished ends for attachment of the electrodes by the fastening rivets J at oneend and the clamping binding pivot bolt K at the op posite end, While at the center it is increased in width .to accommodate the opposing rounded points of said electrodes and al low of adjustment of one oi the electrodes transversely to the line of centers between said ends ZlfOfVfl-i'ltttlOD (if the spark gap.

I claim:

1. A spark intensifier comprising a pair of insulated plates with diminished ends and relatively wide center and separated a relatively small distance to form a chamber open at its sides,one plate having a center hole,-sheets of intusible transparent insulating material between said plates forming the upper and lower walls oi said chamber,a pair of flat. electrodes located between said sheets of infusible material and having rounded. ends located near the cen ter of said plates and visible through. said center hole and adapted'for electrical. con

nection at their outer ends, a clamping pivot bolt through one electrode and the said plates allowing ad ustment of one elecname-n trode relatively to the other, and means to clamp the other electrode and opposite ends of said plates together.

2. A spark intensifier comprising a pair of diamond shape insulating plates,one plate having a sight hole at the center, sheets of infusible transparent insulating material between said plates, a pair of flat electrodes located between said plates and so infusible material, an adjustable pivot bolt through one electrode and adjacent ends of said plates and clamping 1 them together, and means to fasten the bther electrode and said plates together opposite said piivot bolt.

3. A device of the character described comprising insulating and protecting plates, fiat interposed electrodes,one being pivotally mounted,spaeing said plates apart and forming a chamber open at the sides for air entrance, and extending outside said plates forming a handle for adjusting the pivoted electrode, and a pivot clamping bolt through said plates and adjustable electrode forming a binding post, substantially as described. I

i. The combination with a sparkplug, of a spark intensifier comprising insulating and protecting plates, a pair of interposed electrodes located between and spacing said 76 plates apart and forming an open side chamber, and one electrode extending out beyond said plates and adapted to be mounted on said spark plug, and a pivot bolt through the other electrode and adjacent HENRY t. MILLER.

substantially as 

